1. Marlborough Science Academy Music Home Learning Project Week 2
Dynamics

2. What is dynamics?
The different levels of loudness or softness in a piece of music Indicated by letters, signs, abbreviations or symbols in the music

3. p – ‘soft’ Italian = piano f – ‘loud’/ ‘strong’ Italian = forte
2 Main Types
p – ‘soft’ Italian = piano f – ‘loud’/ ‘strong’ Italian = forte

4. Other Types
ff – very loud (fortissimo) fff – extremely loud (fortississimo) pp – very soft (pianissimo) ppp – extremely soft (pianississimo)

5. Other Types More subtle shades of dynamics:
mp – moderately soft(mezzo piano)
mf – moderately loud(mezzo forte)
Remember:
Levels are relative to each
other – left to performer to
consider factors e.g. size of room

6. Other Types
fp – loud, then suddenly soft(forte- piano) fz, sf or sfz – suddenly forcing or accenting a note (forzato) sfp– suddenly forcing or accenting a note followed by piano

7. Listen! Some music will be playing. Headphones needed!
Haydn’s Symphony No.94 in G, nicknamed the ‘Surprise’ Symphony Watch out for the sudden loud, fortissimo chord which was one of Haydn’s famous jokes to ‘make all the ladies jump’! Starts: p, then pp

8. Crescendo – getting louder diminuendo – getting softer
Gradual Changes
Crescendo – getting louder diminuendo – getting softer

9. Gradual Changes
molto (‘more’)– for quicker changes e.g. molto cresc. poco a poco (‘little by little’) – for slower changes e.g. poco a poco cresc.

10. Gradual Changes
hairpins – symbols for quicker changes (over a bar or two) * look like old fashioned hairpins! *
getting softer
getting louder